Walking-dredge.



Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

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C. F. WILSON.

Patented D00. 31, 1918.

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C. F. WILSON.

WALKING DREDGE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. :0. 196.

1,289,589. 7 Patented Dem 31, 1918.

3 SHEE TSSHEET 3- fivuenfor :QQLL E Mm CARL F. WILSON. 0F BAY CITY, MICHIGAN.

WALKING-DREDGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

Application filed April 10, 1916. Serial No. 90,181.

tains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a self movable supporting device for dredging machinery or the like in which the dredge may be moved forward step by step to follow the work upon which it is engaged. It is an object and purpose of the present invention to provide a moving support for dredges or the like which when it is moved does not need to have any track or like supporting bed laid for it. A further object of the invention consists in the provision of novel mechanism for effecting a step by step movement of the device, in novel mechanism for changing the direction of movement as desired and further in numerous details of construction and operation for the attain ment of other subsidiary objects and purposes not specifically enumerated, all of which will appear on understanding of the invention as embodied in the machine shown in the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a plan view of the device.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Figs. 3 and 4 are side elevations similar to Fig. 2, each showing the elements of the ment through the medium of bevel gears 23 structure in different relations as they appear during difierent portions of the step by step movement of the device.

Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially upon the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a plan view; and Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a fragment of the forward part of the main supporting runners; and

Fig. 8 is a plan view with parts shown in section illustrating the connection of the hinged extension to the main runners.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

In the preferred construction as shown there are provided spaced apart supporting runners 1 preferably of channel iron strengthened and reinforced by a centrally located and upwardly pro ected I-beam 2.

Each I-beam at each end supports a bracket 3 and interposed between brackets on opposed beams are cross I-beams 4 and 5, the inner beams 4 being connected at their ends by longitudinal I-beams 6. Various trans verse and longitudinal beams 7 and 8 located between the end and side beams 4 and 6 complete this portion of the frame which is adapted to carry at its forward end dredge mechanism of any preferred type, the boom 9 thereof being shown in Fig. 1 as pivotally mounted substantially midway between the ends of the forward beams 4 and 5.

An extension 10 to each runner 1 is also rovided, it being reinforced similarly by an -beam 11 lying between the rear end ofthe member 10 and its forward upwardly turned end 12. The I-beam 11 at its rear end is partially cut away to provide space for a bracket 13 attached to the extension and which is overlapped by a bracket 14, riveted to the web of the I-beam 2. A pivot bolt 15 passes through the overlapping portions of the two brackets to pivotally connect the extensions 10 to the front end of each runner 1. Projecting forwardly from each endof the forward beam 5 and attached thereto is a short section 16 having pivotal connection by a joint 17 to a brace 18, connected at its forward end to the front end of each extension runner. Rods 19 are secured at their outer ends to each of the I-beams 11, their inner ends having attachment at opposite ends of a rack bar 20 mounted upon the forward I-beam 5. A pinion 21 meshing with this rack and mounted upon a short shaft 22 serves to give the rack longitudinal moveand 24 attached respectively to the lower end of the shaft 22 and to the end of a shaft 25 which may be manually operated in any desired manner, it being evident that upon this manual operation of shaft 25 the extension runners 10 may be moved so as to lie at an angle to the main runners to which they are attached. This movement is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6.

At the rear endof the frame stud shafts 26 project outwardly from the end of cross beams 4 and 5 on which are pivotally mounted steering knuckles 27 each having a spindle for rotatably carrying a wheel 28 provided centrally with a flange 29 which em beds itself in the ground. Also each steering knuckle includes a forwardly projecting arm 30 to the end of which is connected a rod 81, said rods extending inwardly toward and connected to a rack 32. A pinion 33 engages with the rack and may be fixed to any suitable steering post or rod whereby the relative angular position of the wheels with respect to the frame may be changed as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

A pair of auxiliary runners 34 formed of channel iron and having up-turned ends 35 are located one at each side of the main runners adjacent their forward ends. These auxiliary runners are likewise reinforced by an I-beam 36 positioned centrally of and extending upwardly from the web of the channel. A shaft 37 extends laterally from each end of the forward I-beams 4 and 5, and carries a bell crank lever 38 to the lower arm of which is pivotally mounted a flanged roller 39 running upon the beam 36 as a track. A cable 40 is interposed between the rear end of the frame and the upwardly extending arm of each of the bell crank levers. A cable 41 is also attached to the upper end of each of the bell crank levers running thence downwardly and forwardly around a pulley 42 mounted upon a bracket 43 which is secured to the forward end of the beam 36,

. the cable thence extending to the rear around frame, the direction of the cable being thus turned so that it may pass forwardly and wind around a drum 45. There being two of these cables, two drums 45 are necessary, each being loosely mounted on a shaft 46 which at its ends is provided with suitable journal bearings on frame members 8. A sprocket wheel 47 is secured to the shaft 46 by means of which the shaft may be continuously rotated from any suitable source of power. Furthermore clutches 48 are mounted on the shaft adjacent the drums 45 and each may be operated by a lever 49 to cause either drum 45 to rotate with the shaft. Similarly both clutches 48 may be operated by moving the block 50 to the rear, one lever only in this case being necessary to cause the simultaneous engagement of both clutches with the shaft.

There is also loosely mounted on shaft 46 a drum 51 which may be connected to rotate with the shaft through the clutch -52 operated by lever 53. Two cables 54 wind around this drum, leading to the rear around pulleys 55' and 56 and thence forwardly around pulleys 57 mounted at the forward end of the extension runners 10, the end of the cables thence passing to and being connected to the beams 36 on the auxiliary runners.

During the operation of the dredge or other mechanism carried by the frame both the main and. auxiliary runners lie upon the 7 ground and are stationary. When it is necessary to move the dredge ahead in a straight line both drums 45 are connected with the shaft 46 and cables 41 wound thereon. The

first movement of the cable causes a pivotal movement of the bell crank lever 38 to the position shown in Fig. 3 or until cable 40 is stretched taut, this movement causing the lower arm of the bell crank lever to assume a substantially vertical position as illustrated in Fig. v3 and -elevating the forward end of the main runners above the ground. A continued rotation of drum 45 thereupon draws the main runners and all the parts attached thereto forward, rollers 39 traversing the beams 36 until the forward runners assume a position substantially that shown in Fig. 4. Clutches 48 are then released and clutch 52 connected to rotate the drum 51 whereupon the auxiliary runners 34 are drawn forward again to their original position substantially that shown in Figs. 1 and 2. If the dredge is to be moved still farther ahead the process is repeated and in this way, by an intermittent step by step movement, the entire ma chine is moved to any desired position.

When the direction of movement of the dredge supporting frame is to be changed the hinged extension runners 10 are moved so as to lie at an angle to the main and auxiliary runners whereupon, when the auxiliary runners 34 are again carried 'totheir manufactured at comparatively low cost and in use eliminates a great deal of delay and expense in moving dredging machines from one position to another. Many details of construction may be changed without departing from the invention defined in the appended claims. Accordingly I do not wish to be limited to the specific disclosure made but consider myself entitled to all modifications of structure falling within the scopeof the claims.

I claim 1. In a device of the character described, a supporting frame including spaced apart connected main runners, auxiliary runners locatedone alongside each main runner, a track on each of the auxiliary runners, means to carry the frame forward on said tracks, an extension runner pivotally con nected at its rear end to the front end of each of the main runners, means for simul taneously changing the angular position of said extension runners with respect to the main runners, and means operatively associated with the auxiliary runners and the extension runners to cause said auxiliary runners to keep parallel the extension runners, substantially as-described.

2. A construction containing the elements in combination defined in claim 1, combined with wheels one at each side of the rear end of the supporting frame, and means to change the angular position of said wheels simultaneously with the changes in angular position of the extension runners, said changes of the wheels and extension runners being in opposite directions, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the character described, main runners spaced apart and connected together by cross members, extension runners pivoted to move about substantially vertical axes at the forward ends of the.

main runners, means for moving said extension runners to different angular positions with respect to the main runners, auxiliary runners positioned one along each side of the main and extension runners, means to carry the main runners forward on the auxiliary runners, and means to draw the auxiliary runners forward and position them substantially parallel to the positions occupied by the extension runners. I

i. In a device of the character described, a supporting frame including spaced apart main supporting runners, an auxiliary runner positioned alongside and near the front end of each main runner, a beam projecting upwardly from each auxiliary runner, a bell crank lever pivotally mounted at each side of the frame and having upper and lower arms, a roller on the lower arm of each lever running on the beam of the adjacent runner, a cable between the upper arm of each lever and the rear of the frame,

a cable secured to and extending from said upper arm of each lever in the opposite direction, a pulley on the front end of the adjacent auxiliary runner around which the cable passes to the rear, and means on the frame for winding said cables, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the character described, a supporting frame including spaced apart connected main runners, auxiliary runners located one. alongside each main runner, a track on each of the auxiliary runners, means to carry the frame forward on said tracks, an extension runner pivotally connected at its rear end to the front end of each of the main runners, a drum carried by the main frame, an idle pulley at the front end of each of the extension runners, a cable connected to each auxiliary runner, leading therefrom around the pulley on the adjacent extension runner and therefrom around the drum, and means for rotating said drum, substantially as described.

6. In a device of the character described, a frame comprised of spaced apart main runners, connected together by cross beams, an extension runner pivotally connected to the front end of each main runner, an auxiliary runner mounted alongside each extension runner, a cable connected to each auxiliary runner and passing around a horizontal pulley secured to the front end of each extension runner, and means on the frame for winding said cables.

7. A construction containing the elements in combination claimed in claim 5, combined with a rack slidably mounted at the front of the supporting frame, rods connected at the ends thereof and having attachment to the extension runners, a wheel at the rear end and at each side of the supporting frame, said Wheels being mounted to turn about vertical axes, a second rack slidably mounted at the rear portion of said supporting frame, rods connecting said second rack with the wheel mounts for simultaneously turning the same on lengthwise movement of said second rack, and means interposed between said first and second rack for moving the second rack in a direction opposite to the movement of the first rack, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CARL F. WILSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

